Hat decorations

ABSTRACT

A decorative element for a hat, designed to fit over an edge of a hat, in particular over a brim of a hat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to decorative elements for hats, in particular, although not exclusively, for hats with brims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many different types of hats are made and used, some of which have brims. A particularly common type of hat with a brim is a cap, for example a baseball cap. The brim on a cap is also commonly known as a visor.

[0003] Unlike many other types of hat, caps are frequently mishandled and the visor often becomes damaged and misshapen.

[0004] Furthermore, hats are generally provided with decorative features fixedly attached to the hat material, for example, sewn on. To change the appearance of the hat is therefore difficult.

[0005] It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a device to overcome problems of the prior art, whether stated herein or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a decorative element for a hat comprising a body and a flange arranged to attach the body to a hat.

[0007] The body may comprise a flat elongate body. Suitably, the body has a substantially rectangular shape. Suitably, the body has a first surface and a second surface. Suitably, in use, the first surface of the body provides a lower surface, which contacts the brim of the hat. Suitably, the second surface, in use, provides an upper surface.

[0008] Suitably, the body is profiled. Suitably, the body has a profile that corresponds with the profile of the hat brim.

[0009] Suitably, the body is located, in use, on an external surface of the hat. Suitably, in use, the body is located on the upper surface of the brim of the hat.

[0010] Suitably, the body is located, in use, on the peripheral edge of the brim. Suitably, the body extends, in use, along a proportion of the peripheral edge of the brim.

[0011] Suitably, the body extends, in use, along at least a quarter and preferably at least half of the peripheral edge of the brim. The body may extend, in use, along the whole of the peripheral edge of the brim, preferably the body extends along three quarters or less of the peripheral edge of the brim.

[0012] Suitably, the decorative element provides support means for the hat brim. Suitably, the decorative element is profiled to support the brim in its original shape and thus reduce deformation of the brim.

[0013] The body may comprise any suitable material, for example, metal or plastics material.

[0014] Suitably, the flange extends from an edge of the body. The decorative element may comprise a plurality of flanges. Suitably, the decorative element comprises a single flange extending from an edge of the body.

[0015] Suitably, the flange is arranged to attach the body to a brim of a hat. Suitably, the flange is arranged to lie around the edge of a brim of a hat.

[0016] Suitably, the flange is resiliently attachable to a hat.

[0017] The flange may extend along a portion of the length of the body. Suitably, the flange extends along at least a quarter, preferably a half and more preferably substantially the whole length of the body.

[0018] Suitably, the flange is connected to the body by means of a joint. The joint may be a fold and/or a hinge. Suitably, the flange is arranged to overlie the body. Suitably, the flange overlies the first surface of the body.

[0019] In use of the present invention, a hat is suitably located between the body and the flange. Suitably, the brim of a hat is located between the body and the flange. Suitably, the decorative element is slide over an edge of the hat until the edge of the hat contacts the joint between the body and the flange. Suitably, the edge of the brim contacts the joint between the body and the flange.

[0020] Suitably, the material from which the decorative element is made is a resilient material. Suitably, the material is sufficiently resilient for the body and flange to move apart slightly as the hat is inserted therebetween, but maintain a firm grip of the hat.

[0021] The body and the attachment means may comprise the same or different materials. The body and the attachment means may be provided as a unitary article. Alternatively, the body and attachment means may comprise separate elements that are connected together before use.

[0022] If the body is profiled, the flange is suitably correspondingly profiled.

[0023] The decorative element may have text and/or drawing or other two-dimensional decoration applied to the second surface and/or the flange of the support.

[0024] Alternatively, or in addition, a three-dimensional decorative feature may extend from the body and/or the flange of the decorative element.

[0025] Three-dimensional decorative features may extend from the second, or upper, surface of the body. Alternatively, or in addition, three-dimensional decorative features may extend from an edge of the body. Suitably, the three-dimensional decorative features extend from an edge of the body that is opposite the joint between the body and the flange.

[0026] The three-dimensional decorative features may comprise any suitable features. For example, the features may be in the form of letters and/or numbers. The letters and/or numbers may spell out a word or popular abbreviation.

[0027] The three-dimensional decorative features may be provided by extensions of the body. Alternatively, or in addition, the three-dimensional decorative features may be separate from the decorative element.

[0028] The three-dimensional decorative features may be fixedly or removably attached to the decorative element.

[0029] The three-dimensional decorative features may comprise any suitably material, which may be the same as or different from the material used to provide the decorative element.

[0030] The decorative features may be coloured.

[0031] Decorative elements having different decorative features can be used on the same brim to alter the appearance of the hat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a decorative element located on a hat brim;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line X-X of FIG. 1;

[0035]FIG. 3 is a front view of the support of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

[0036]FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view from the front side of the support of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIGS. 1-4 show a decorative element 2 for a hat brim located on a hat brim 4.

[0038] The decorative element 2 comprises a body 6 and a flange 8. The body 6 and the flange 8 comprise a unitary article separated by a fold 10. The flange 8 is folded underneath the body 6 to overlie the lower side 12 of the body 6.

[0039] The body 6 and flange 8 have generally corresponding profiles. The body 6 has a profile to correspond substantially with the shape of the brim 4, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0040] The body 6 has a generally rectangular shape, being slightly curved to correspond with the peripheral edge 14 of the brim 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] The decorative element 2 further comprises a three-dimensional decorative feature in the form of letters 20 extending from the edge 22 of the body 6.

[0042] The letter 20 are formed from an extension of the body 4, as can be seen from FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the letters 20 are formed with a slightly greater thickness than the thickness of the body 4.

[0043] In use, the peripheral edge 14 of the brim 4 is inserted between the flange 8 and lower surface 12 of the body 6. The decorative element 2 is slid over the brim 4 until the peripheral edge 14 of the brim 4 is adjacent the fold 10 between the flange 8 and the body 6.

[0044] The flange may be resiliently attached to a hat.

[0045] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0047] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0048] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 

1. A decorative element for a hat comprising a body and a flange arranged to attach the body to a hat.
 2. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the body has a flat, elongate shape.
 3. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially rectangular shape.
 4. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the body has a first surface that contacts a brim of the hat.
 5. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the body is profiled.
 6. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the body has a profile that corresponds to the profile of a hat brim.
 7. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the body is located on an external surface of the hat.
 8. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the body is located on an upper surface of a brim of the hat.
 9. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the decorative element provides support means for a brim of the hat.
 10. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the flange extends from an edge of the body.
 11. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the decorative element comprises a plurality of flanges.
 12. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the flange is arranged to lie around the edge of a brim of the hat.
 13. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the flange is resiliently attachable to the hat.
 14. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the flange is connected to the body by means of a joint.
 15. A decorative element according to claim 14, wherein the joint is a fold and/or a hinge.
 16. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the flange is arranged to overlie the body.
 17. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein, in use, a hat is located between the body and the flange.
 18. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein in the decorative element is made form a resilient material.
 19. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein if the body is profiled, the flange is correspondingly profiled.
 20. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the decorative element has two-dimensional decoration applied to the body and/or the flange.
 21. A decorative element according to claim 1, wherein three-dimensional decorative features extend from the body and/or the flange. 